John Gill Commentary Leviticus 5:1

John Gill Commentary

Leviticus 5:1

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Leviticus 5:1

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity." — Leviticus 5:1 (ASV)

And if a soul sin
The soul is put for the person, and is particularly mentioned, as Ben Melech says, because possessed of will and desire:

and hear the voice of swearing ;
or cursing, or adjuration; not of profane swearing, and taking the name of God in vain, but either of false swearing, or perjury, as when a man hears another swear to a thing which he knows is false; or else of adjuration, either the voice of a magistrate or of a neighbour adjuring another, calling upon him with an oath to bear testimony in such a case; this is what the Jews


and is a witness ;
is able to bear witness to the thing he is adjured about:

whether he has seen or known of it ;
what he has seen with his eyes, or knows by any means: of such a case, the Jews observe F20 , that there may be seeing without knowing, or knowing without seeing, and in either case a man ought to bear witness:

if he do not utter it ;
tell the truth, declare what he has seen or known:

then he shall bear his iniquity ;
he shall be charged with sin, and be obliged to acknowledge his offence, and bring a trespass offering for it:

it is said F21 , that the witnesses are not guilty of the oath of the testimony, but in these ten cases; if they are required; if the testimony is concerning goods; if the goods are movable; if he that requires binds himself to pay for their testimony only, in case they bear witness; if they refuse after required; if they refuse in the sanhedrim; if the adjuration or oath is made there by the name of God, or his titles; if knowledge of the testimony goes before the oath; if he particularizes his witnesses in the time of the oath, or at the time of the requirement; and if the oath is in a language they understood.

FOOTNOTES:

  • F20: T. Bab. Shebuot, fol. 33. 2. & 34. 1.
  • F21: Maimon. Hilchot, Shebuot, c. 9. sect. 3.